That dispute is reportedly over marijuana and federal policy toward states’ legalization laws. Sessions said the DOJ would consider marijuana illegal everywhere in the country.

“I cannot and will not pretend that a duly enacted law of this country—like the federal ban on marijuana does not exist,” said Sessions. “Marijuana is illegal in the United States—even in Colorado, California and everywhere else in America.”

The Attorney General cited statistics indicating decades of crime decreases were reversed at the end of the second term of President Barack Obama—but which have since been reversed again by Trump in his first year in office. Such numbers have been subject of back-and-forth debate.

Sessions solidified several other stances he has taken over about a year in office. Sanctuary cities will no longer receive federal grants, and the federal authorities would support agreements like the recent one between 17 Florida sheriffs and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to facilitate detentions of immigrants without authorization. Civil-asset forfeiture is also being fostered through the equitable sharing program at the DOJ—in 15 states that have recently passed or are considering legislation, Sessions added.

The feds want to be a “force multiplier” for local jurisdictions, he added.

“I believe that morale is already up among our law enforcement community,” Sessions said, in his prepared remarks. “I can feel the difference. And we have good reason to be encouraged.”

Sesssions also appeared to ad-lib some of his final remarks, extolling the "Anglo-American heritage" of law in the country. The phrase drew some criticism outside the meeting.

Trump met with the sheriffs last year in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, to discuss what he called “a public safety crisis” in America. At the time, the president told the Association they have a “true, true friend in the White House,” and signed three executive orders “designed to restore safety in America.” A major topic of that meeting was the border wall with Mexico.

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